Locking device for umbrellas.



PATENTED JAN. 15

B. MOSES. LOCKING DEVICE FOR UMBRELLAS.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

APPLICATION FILED APR.24. 1906.

INVE/V 70/? Bezzram Iowa;

WITNESSES ATTORNEYS ENTTEE sTaTEs PATENT oEEIoE.

BERTRAh l MOSES, OF JENNINGS, LOUISIANA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ANDREW O. BRAINARD, OF JENNINGS, LOUISIANA.

LOCKING DEVICE FOR UMBRELLAS Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 15, 1907.

Application filed April 24, 1906- Serial No. 318,449.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, BERTRAM MosEs, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Jennings, in the parish of Oalcasieu and State of Louisiana, have invented a new and Improved Locking Device for Umbrellas, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The purpose of the invention is to provide a lock or catch forming a portion of an umbrella or parasol which cannot be unlocked to open the umbrella except by one familiar with the combination, or by violent means, or by taking the lock apart, the object being to prevent the indiscriminate appropriation of umbrellas by persons not entitled to their use.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide a chain guard inseparable from the umbrella, by means of which guard the umbrella may be attached to any appropriate stationary object, and to so construct such locking device that when it is operated to lock the umbrella closed it simultaneously locks the guard, if desired.

A further purpose of the invention is to provide a construction of the character men tioned which will be simple, readily com prehended, economic, and applicable to any make of umbrella or parasol.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the several parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of the umbrella-frame and the applied locking device. Fig. 2 is'an enlarged vertical section through the runner and'locking mechanism carried thereby, the cover being broken away and the rod and stretchers being in side elevation, the runner being shown as locked to the rod. Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation of the keeper-section of the rod, a portion of the rod being broken away, and a vertical section through the runner and attached locking mechanism, the parts of the locking mechanism being shown in the position they occupy when it is possi ble to move the runner along the rod. Fig.

4 is an enlarged transverse section taken practically on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2 viewed in direction of the arrows. Fig. 5 is a similar section taken practically on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3 seen in direction of the arrows. Fig. 6 is an enlarged transverse section taken substantially on the line 6 6 of Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the guide member of the locking mechanism and Fig. 8 is a transverse section through said guide member, taken 011 the line 8 8 of Fig. 7 and drawn upon an enlarged scale, said figure showing also by dotted lines a latch member and surrounding casing and the manner in which the latch member is placed upon the guide member.

A represents the rod of an umbrella, and A a handle attached thereto in the customary way. Adjacent to the handle A the rod is split or is cut longitudinally to receive a keeper-bar B, whose opposing faces are fiat, and this bar when suitably fastened in the rod A extends an equal distance beyond opposite sides of said rod, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. keeper-bar B is provided with a series of teeth 10, transversely-opposing teeth being in alineinent with each other. Each tooth 10 is provided with a downwardly and outwardly inclined longitudinal edge I) and a straight under transverse edge I), as is also best shown in Fig. 3.. i

Near the lower end of the keeper-bar B opposing recesses 11 are made inits longitudinal edges, and immediately below these recesses outwardly-extending horizontal spurlugs 12 are formed, corresponding to the teeth 10, above mentioned. Either of the spur-lugs 12 is adapted to receive the keeperplate 14, having a slot 13, through which one of the spur-lugs 12- may pass, as is illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, and the lower end of the keeper-plate 14 is attached to one end of a guard 15, preferably in the form of a chain, the other end of the said guard-chain 15 being attached to a ring 18 or equivalent device loosely mounted or fastened in an suitable manner on the rod A at its handle A. The upper end of the keeper-plate 14 is provided with a head 16 of any approved type, whereby said plate may be readily handled, and when the plate is in position on the keeper-bar B its head is partially within Each longitudinal edge of theone of the recesses 11. In the further construction of the keeper plate 14 curved wings 17 are provided at its slotted portion, as shown best in Fig. 2, which wings are adapted to conform to the outer face of the rod A. In fact, the keeper-plate throughout its length is more or less dished or concaved to flt snugly to the rod A, and its lower end, or the end attached to the guard 15, is given I more or less of an outward curve.

'A passes, however, is of much greater diameter than the diameter of the said rod, and at the lower marginal portion of the head 19 of the runner a casing 23 is secured in any suit able or approved manner, usually flush with the outer face of the runner. The diameter of the casing 23 is such that when the runner is slid up and down ample space will be provided between the teeth on the keeper-bar B and the inner face of the casing. Also, preferably, as is shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the lower end of the casing 23 is reduced in diameter to such an extent as just to clear the teeth 10 of the keeper-bar and the spur-lugs 12 thereon as the runner is moved up and down. This reduction (shown at 24) is made,

' primarily, in order that when the keeperplate 14, attached to the guard 15, is passed over one of the spurs 12 and the runner is in its lower position the casing 23 will fit so closely to the outer ends of the spur-lugs 12 as to absolutely prevent the keeper-plate 14 from being removed from its supportinglug until the runner is again carried upward to a greater or less extent.

In connection with the head 19 of the run ner a guide member D is employed, which practically constitutes an integral portion of the said runner and extends from the head 19 nearly to the bottom portion of the casing.

The guide member D is tubular, and the bore thereof is of suflicient diameter to loosely receive the rod A of the umbrella, as is shown in Fig. 3. The exterior-size of the guide member D is such as to provide ample space between its outer face and the inner wall of the casing 23. The upper end 25 of the guide member D is screwed or otherwise fastened in the head 19 of the runnerat the bore therein, as is clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and opposing faces 26 of the said guide member D are flattened, as is shown in Figs. 7 and 8. These flattened surfaces extend from the point where the guide member enters the head 19 on the runner to the lower end of said guide member, and in each flattened surface 26 of said guide member D ficient size to project some distance beyond the flattened surface 26 of the guide member when received thereby.

The guide member D isfurther provided with a series of annular grooves 28, corresponding in number and position to the number and position of the teeth 10 on the keeper-bar B, secured to the rod A. As is shown best in Fig. 8, these annular grooves 28 do not appear at the longitudinal grooves 27 in the flattened surface 26 of the guide member, since at such points the said member. is perfectly flat, while atthe two opposite side or rounded portions of the guide member well-defined upperand lower shoulders 29 are obtained. When the runner C is in its lowest position, which is when the head 19 of the runner rests upon an upper flattened surface I) of the keeper-bar B, a groove 28 in the guide member D will be opposite the flattened lower edges '1) of a transversely-opposing set of teeth 10 on the keeper-bar B, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, and at such time also slots 30 in the casing 23 will be likewise opposite the flattened surfaces of the said teeth 10, since the slots 30 in the casing are opposite the annular grooves 28 inthe guide member. Some of these slots 30 are produced in one side of the casing, and others of the slots are produced in the opposite side of the casing, as is illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3.

Latches are employed, carried by the runner C, adapted to act in conjunction with the teeth 10 of the keeper-bar B. These latches are in two series, one seriesE-being true or release latches, sincethey are adapted to automatically engage with the teeth of the keeper-bar when said bar is properly receivedwithin the runner, and the runner cannot be removed from such position until re leased from engagement with said latches, while the other series of latches .E" are-bafflelatches and are intended to possess all the members of the true latches, but to have normally no locking engagement with the keeper-bar B; but should any-one of the baffle-latches be pressed for releasing action in the same manner as the true latches E the true latches would release themselves from the keeper-bar, while at the same time the baffle-latches would place themselves in locking engagement with said keeper-bar and prevent the runner from being moved. Therefore unless the positions of the true latches are fully known it would be very inconvenient, if not nearly impossible, for any person not understanding the combination to operate the latches to release the runner.

In the main the true and the baffle latches E and E are of like construction; but they differ in certain details, as will be hereinafter pointed out. Each latch consists of a flat ring-body 3]. of sufficient size to have horizontal sliding movement witl in the casing 23 of the runner, as shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 6, and an opening 32 in the body is provided with opposing flat side surfaces 33, and the front and the rear surfaces 34. and 35 of said opening 32 are semicircular and are therefore adapted to the semicircular faces of the guide member D, wl. ile the flattened surfaces 33 are adapted to the flattened faces or surfaces 26 on the side guide member, as is shown by dotted lines in Fig. 8. Consequently the distance between the surfaces 34 and 35 is greater than between the flat sur faces 33, as is clearly shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 6.

A handle 36 extends from the front of the ring-body 31 of the latch, and said handle is adapted to pass out through an opening 30 in the casing 23 of the runner and is provided with a downwardlyextending thumb or fin ger piece 37.

Each true latch E is provided with a longitudinal slot 38 in its handle portion extending into the body of the latch, as is particularly shown in Figs. 4 and -5, and otherwise the body is uncut or unbroken; but the body of a false or baffle plate E is provided with a slot 39 at its rear portion, but is otherwise unbroken; but in order that each of the slots shall have thelike appearance viewed from th e outside of the casing an opening 40 is made for the handle of each baffle-latch E to corre spond to the exposed portion of the slot 33 in the true latch. Each style of latch is provided with a spring 41, attached at one end to the outer side edge of the body or an edge opposite a flat inner surface 33, and the free ends of these springs are adapted to be in engagement with the inner face of the casing 23 of the runner and tend to force the latches outward to the position shown in Fig. 4, and when the true latches are forced inward to release the runner the springs 41 of the said latches are placed under contraction, as shown in Fig. 5, so that when the latches are released and the runner has passed the keeperbar B the springs will return the latches to their normal position, or the position to be again brought into locking engagement with said bar.

In Fig. lease latches pressed in, or in releasing posi tion and the false or baffle latches in their locked position. At such time the rear teeth 10 of the keeper-bar will clear the rear edge of the opening in the true latches, and the forward teeth 10 on said keeper-bar will have entered the slots 38 in the handles of said latches, while the baffle-latches being in their normal position the rear teeth can pass through the slots 39 in the rear portions of said baffle-latches, and the forward teeth on the keeper-bar will be clear of the forward edge of the opening 32 in said baffle-latches,

as shown in Fig. 6; but if by chance one of the baffle-latches is forced in, together wltn the true or release latches, the forward edge portion of the body of said baffle-latch will be brought directly under the flat surface of the adjacent tooth on the keeperbar B and will prevent the runner from being moved.

The handle portions of the latches are preferably made to extend out in series beyond opposite sides of the runner; but I do not confine myself to any particular arrangement of the latches.

In placing a latch in position it is slipped up into the casing of the runner, the runner being off from the rod, and the handle portions are passed out through selected openings 30 in the casing. The guide member D is then passed up through the openings in all of the latches, occupying at such time the po- 'sition shown in Fig. 8, wherein its flat faces register with the flat surfaces of the openings 32 in the latches, and the semicircular surfaces of the guide member register with the semicircular front and rear surfaces of the said openings in the latches, and after the guide member has been passed up through all of the latches it is made to enter the bore of the head 19 of the runner and is then turned so as to bring the flat or straight edges 33 at the openings 32 of the latches opposite the segmental surfaces of the guide member D, and consequently between the shoulders 29, formed by the grooves 28. Thus it will be observed that the latches may be freely pushed in or out, but that they cannot be moved vertically from their set position.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In an umbrella, an umbrella-rod, a toothed keeper-bar secured thereto, a runner having a casing adapted to slide over the keeper-bar, and latches mounted for movement in the casing to and from the keeperbar to engage therewith and to be disengaged therefrom.

1 2. In umbrellas, an umbrella-rod, a keeperbar having a series of teeth arranged in pairs, a runner having a casing attached, which casing is adapted .to slide loosely over the keeper- 1 bar, latches mounted to slide in the said ms 3 I have illustrated the true or re 1 ing, one latch for each pair of teeth, tension devices for the latches, the said latches being exteriorly operated in the same direction, the tension devices of one set of latches serving to hold said latches in position to engage the teeth of the keeper-bar and the tension devices of the other set of latches acting to engagement with the teeth of the keeper-bar,

out of engagement with thekeeper-bar and beyond opposite sides of the rod, said longiin the runner, divided into a series of true hold their controlled latches out of locking engagement with the teeth of the keeper-b ar.

3. In umbrellas, an umbrella-rod, a keeperl bar having a series of teeth arranged in pairs, a runner having a casing attached, which casing is adapted toslide loosely over the keeper bar, latches mounted to slide in said casing, one latchfor each pairof teeth, tension devices for thelatches, the said latches being exteriorly operated in the same direction, the tension devices of one set of latches serving to hold said latches in position to engage with the teeth of the keeper-bar and the tension devices of'the other set of latches actingto hold their controlled latches out of locking and external means for operating the latches, which means are of the same type and of corresponding arrangement.

4. In an umbrella, an umbrella-rod, a toothed keeper-bar secured thereto, a runner adapted to slide over the keeperbar, and latches mounted to slide in the runner, arranged for automatic engagement with the keeper-bar and to be manually released therefrom.

5. In umbrellas, an umbrella-rod, a toothed keeper-bar secured thereto, a runner adapted to slide over the keeper-bar, and tension-controlled latches mounted to slide latches and a series of baffle-latches, the latches of the two series beingnormally for engagement with the keeper-bar and being exteriorly and manually released therefrom, the latches of the'baflieseries being normally eXteriorly and manually brought into engagement with the bar and the latches of tion by corresponding means.

6. The combination with the rod of an umbrella, and a keeper-bar secured to said rod, having its longitudinal edges projectingtudinal edges having teeth produced therein in transverse alinement, the said teeth having inclined longitudinal edges and straight bottom edges, of a runner comprising a head and a casing, the casing being adapted to loosely slide over the keeper-bar, a guide member secured to said head, which guide member is provided with slots in opposing faces for the outward passage of the teeth of the keeperbar, the guide member being adapted to slide loosely on the said rod, the

in said casing, one in each grooved portion of the guide member, the latches being exteriorly operated, one being provided for each pair of teeth, the latches being also in series, one se ries being normally in position for locking engagement with the teeth of the keeper-bar and the other series being held norni'allyout of such engagement, as described.

7. The combination with the rod of an umbrella, and a keeper-bar secured to said rod, of a runner adapted to slide over the keeper-bar, tension-controlled latches carried by the said runner and adapted for looking engagement with the keeper-bar, a guard attached to the said rod, extensions from the keeper-bar, a keeper-plate attached to the free end ofthe guard and adapted for engagement with one of said projections from the keeper-bar, the said keeper-plate being prevented from leaving its position on the projection when the runner is over bar, as described.

8. In an umbrella, an umbrella-rod, a keeper stationary upon the rod, provided with a multiple of retaining-points, a'runner mounted to slide .over the keeper, true and false latches carried by the runner, the true latches being adapted for automatic locking engagement with the keeper and to be manually released therefrom and the false latches being substantially free from looking engagement with said keeper.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

BERTRAM MOSES.

Witnesses:

G. W. PATTERSON, W. G. Bnrees.

the keeper- 

